Foot stirrups for physician&#39;s examining tables



Aug 2, 1955 A. s. REICHERT ETAL FOOT STIRRUPS FOR l lzI-YSICINS EXAMINING TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 7, 1953 A. s. RElcHl-:RT ETAL 2,714,541

Aug. 2, 1955 FOOT STIRRUPS FOR PHYSICIANS EXAMINING TABLES Filed July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. S. REICHERT ROY T. ADoLPHsoN ALLAN United States Patent FOOT STIRRUPS FGR PHYSICIANS EXAMINING TABLES Allan S. Reichert, Clayton, and Roy T. Adolphson,

Webster Groves, M0., assgnors to Shampaine Conipany, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application .luly 7, 1953, Serial No. 366,584

6 Claims. (Cl. 311-11) This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in foot stirrups for physicians examining tables.

Most surgeons and medical diagnosticians maintain one or more patient examining rooms in conjunction with their suites of oices and furnish such rooms with instrument cabinets and other utilitarian articles of furniture which are useful and necessary in examining patients and changing dressings in the nal stages of ambulatory convalescence. Usually such examining rooms are relatively small and available examining tables take up a large portion of the available floor space. Consequently the examining physician frequently nds himself crowded and inconvenienced. Furthermore, the compact arrangement of physicians examining rooms frequently makes it diicult to manipulate the various accessory devices employed on examining tables.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a physicians examining table which is extremely compact and affords ample room around the foot-end of the table while providing conveniently accessible disappearing foot stirrups which are sturdy when in operative position and can withstand substantial stresses when in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a physicians examining table having fully concealed foot stirrups which can be swung from a concealed position to fully operative position quickly and conveniently, and, contrariwise, can be returned to concealed position with equal convenience and facility.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a physicians examining table constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 2 2 and 3 3, respectively, of Figure l;

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmetary sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Figure 5, showing the foot stirrup supporting and locking mechanism with the foot stirrup in outwardly extended or operative position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, substantially similar to Figure 6, showing the foot stirrup in inoperative or concealed position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, showing a corner of a physicians examining table equipped with a modiiied form of foot stirrup supporting mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 9 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Referring now in more detail and by reference numer- 2,714,541 ce Patented Aug. 2, 1955 als to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a physicians examining table comprising a rectilinear base 1 having a hollow interior and conventionally provided with three vertically aligned drawers 2. Joined to, and extendingV forwardly from, the central portion of the base 1 is a relatively narrow rectilinear base extension 3 also having a hollow interior and being conventionally provided along its forwardly presented end wall with three vertically spaced drawers 4 and a leg support or leg-rest slide 5, more particularly described in the copending application Ser. No. 366,425 tiled July 7, 1953, by Roy T. Adolphson. The base extension 3 is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line of the examining table A, and thus, in effect, presents a somewhat T-shaped horizontal cross-sectional configuration.

Rigidly fastened to, and extending horizontally across the top of, the base 1 and base-extension 3 is a rectilinear table top 6 integrally provided around its peripheral margins with a relatively wide depending apron or ange 7. As will be noted by reference to Figure l, the apron 7 is substantially ush with the drawers 2 and leg-rest slide 5 when the latter are in closed position, and, furthermore, the top 6 is of uniform width throughout its length so as to overhang the base extension 3 on both sides and thereby provide a relatively large recessed area, so that the examining physician can stand close to the edge of the table top 6 and still have ample toe room directly therebeneath. Hingedly secured upon the upper face of the table top 6 and to each other, in a manner conventionally employed in physicians examining tables, are two substantially rectilinear upholstered top members 8, 9, which, when tted together in end to end relationship, have substantially the same peripheral size and contour as the table top 6.

Although not forming a part of the present invention and, therefore, not shown or described herein, the present physicians examining table, in common with all physicians examining tables, is provided with some type of adjustment mechanism whereby the back-forming top member 9 can be swung upwardly into approximately vertical position in relation to the seat-forming top member 8 to form therewith a structure resembling a chair, so that the patient may be seated therein While the physician is examining the head and chest. Consequently, the top member 8 is relatively short for serving alternatively as a chair seat and the top member 9 is relatively long for alternatively serving as a chair back when the exarnining table A is in so-called chair position. Extending transversely along the forward and rearward edges, respectively, of the top members 8, 9, are indented undercut slots 3', 9', to provide for convenience in manually gripping and operating these elements from any adjacent location.

The forwardly presented transverse portion of the table top flange 7 is provided adjacent its opposite corners with downwardly opening vertical clearance slots 1t), and bolted or otherwise securely mounted upon the under face of the table top 6 inwardly from each of the slots 7 is a bracket plate 11 integrally provided on its under face with a pair of depending spaced parallel ears 12, 12', having co-axial apertures 13, 13, respectively, for accommodating a bearing sleeve 14 secured therein by means of a set screw 15 and having an axially outwardly projecting diametrally reduced end portion 16. As Will be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4, the bracket plate 11 and its associated ears 12 are positioned at a slight angle to the table corner, so that the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 14 is substantially parallel to the table top 6, but is disposed at a slight angle to the adjacent faces of the apron or ange 7 for purposes which will presently be more fully apparent.

VShiitably and rotatably mounted in, and extending t axially through, the sleeve 14 is a latch actuating rod 17 integrally provided atits innerV end with a diametrally enlarged head portion 1S and being drilled and tapped at its opposite outwardly projecting end, as at 19, for refceiving a flat-headed capetan bolt which is threaded therein for retention of a diametrally enlarged washer 2i,

which, in turn, bears against one end of a compression spring 22 encirclingly disposed around the diametrally enlarged end portion 16 of the bearing sleeve 14 for thereby urging or biasing the rod 17 outwardly, that is Vte toward the right, Vasshown in Figure 3, and thereby hole t V to extend outwardly through the slot 1l), as shown in full lines in Figure 4, and, when the stirrup bar 23 in inoperative or concealed position, it is adapted to extend rearwardly in parallel relation to the longitudinal side portions of the flange or apron 7, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The angular position of the bracket plate 11 and the angulation introduced into the stirrup bar 23 by the bend at 24 is such that, when inV operative position, thestirrup bars 23 will flare outwardly from each other inra horizontal plane, substantially as shown in Figure 1, and will be disposed in substantially parailel relation when in inoperative or concealed position.

" Shiftably mounted upon each of the stirrup bars 23 is Ya U-shaped stirrup fitting 25 having upwardly extending spaced parallel ears 27 which are provided with axially Yaligned apertures 28 for receiving a pintle screw 29. Swingably mounted upon the pintle screw 29 is a foot stirrup 30 integrally provided at its upper end with diverging arms 31 cross-connected by a foot bar 32. At its lower end, the stirrup Si) is provided with an arcuate shoulder 33 which curves around in a quarter circle at the rear or inwardly presented corner and adjoins a somewhat sharp-cornered shoulder 34. Rigidly fixed at its ends in, and extending horizontally between, the ears 27 is a small retention pin 35 which is located suiiiciently forwardly to clear the arc of swing of the shoulder 34 andserves to prevent the fitting 26 from falling loosely VYfrom the stirrup bar 23. When the stirrup 341 is swung downwardly into horizontal position in the direction shown'by the arrow in Figure 5, the rounded shoulder 33 will clear the upper horizontal face of the stirrup bar 23. However, when the stirrup 30 is swung in the opposite Vdirection into'upright position, that is to sa the position shown in Figure 2, the shoulder 34 will act as a stop. in addition, the stirrup fitting 26 may be shifted to and fro along the stirrup bar 23 to any desired position of adjustment as long as the stirrup 30 is not in fully upright position. When foot pressure is appliedV against the stirrup 30, the shoulder 34l will swing down and frictionally engage or bind against the stirrup bar 23, thereby locking the fitting 26 in such adjusted position. A stop screw 36 is conventionally threaded into the outer end of the stirrup bar 23 to keep the litting 26 and the stirrup V30 carried thereby from unauthorizedly slipping off the end of the stirrup bar 23.

The pivot portion 25 of the stirrup bar 23 is provided with an aperture 37 which is spaced radially outwardly from the center line of the rod 17 in the direction of lthe bend 24. The ear 12 is furthermore provided with two Vapertures 38, '38', located on diametrally opposed sides of the center line of the rod V17 and spaced outwardiy therefrom by the sameV radial distance as the aperture 37. The head 18 of the pin is provided with a radially outwardly extending bar 39, which, in turn, is supportingly mounted at its outer end in a locking pin 40 which extends inwardly toward the ear 12 in spaced parallel relation to the rod 17 and is provided at its end with a diametrally reduced portionV 41 sized for snug-fitting engagement within the aperture 37 and also optionally within either the aperture 38 or 38'.

Welded or otherwise rigidly mounted upon the inner side faces of thetapron 7 is a tubular sleeve 42 having a diametrally enlarged circular ange `43. The tubular bore of the sleeve 42 is aligned with a circular aperture 44 formed in the apron 7 for shiftably accommodating anV actuating rod 45 having an integrally formed diametrally enlarged end pad 46 the outer face 47 of which is convexly rounded oi in endwise abutting engagement against the dat end face of the capstan screw 20. Threadedly mounted upon the outer end ofthe actuating rod 44 is a diametrallyenlarged button-like pressure knob 4S which can be pushed inwardly with the palm of the hand or the knee attheconvenience of the examining physician. Whenthe stirrup bars are in operative or outwardly extended position, the reduced end 41 of the pin 4i) is engaged in the apertures 37, 33, and resiliently held in such position by the spring 22.

When the examining physician no longer needs the foot stirrup in operative or extended position, he merelyY shifts and holds the actuating rod 4S' inwardly by exerting pressure against the knob 48, thereby moving the rod 17 inwardly, compressing the spring 22 and shifting the reduced end 41 of the pin 40 inwardly, disengaging it from the aperture 38. Thereupon, the stirrup bar Z3 and its associated stirrup 30 will swing downwardly under the force of gravity, picking up sulcient momentum to cause the stirrup 30 to slide outwardly against the stop screw 36. The stirrup 30 is ofk such mass and weight that its outward shifting movement will accentuate the `downward and inward swinging momentum of the stirrup bar 23, carrying the entire stirrup assembly upwardly into concealed position behind the apron 7. As the stirrup bar 23 reaches the upper limit of its swing, the aperture 37 will become aligned with the aperture 38 and the pressure knob 48 may be immediately released to permit the reduced end 41 of the pin 40 to slip into the aperture 38, thereby locking the stirrup bar 23 in inoperative or concealed position. This manipulation can be readily accomplished by the examining physician after a brief amount of experience inasmuch as the downwardly and inwardly f swinging stirrup bar 23 will tend to swing through an arc somewhat greater than degrees and will be moving` rather slowly at the time of its inward swing preparatory to swinging back again in the fashion of a pendulum.V

When the examining physician again desires to use theY foot stirrup 30, pressure is again applied to the knob 48 to shift the rod 17 inwardly, disengaging the reduced end 41 of the pin 40 from the aperture 38 and allowing the stirrup bar 23 to swing downwardly, outwardly, and thence upwardly into operative position, where it again may be locked by release of pressure against the knob 48,

so that the reduced end`41 of the pin 40 canrbecome re- Y engaged in the aperture 38.

If desired, it is possible to provide a modified form of stirrup holding mechanism of the type illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, and comprising a base plate 49 which is welded or otherwisetrigidly attached upon the under face of a table top 6 of a physicians examining table A', which, except for the modified form of stirrup holding mechanism, is substantially identical with the prevviously described physicians examining table A.V The table top 6 is integrally provided around its peripheral margins with a depending apron or flange 7 having downwardly opening stirrup clearance slots v', also substantially similar to lthe corresponding elements of ``the previously described physicians examining table A.

Rigidly mounted upon the downwardly presented face of the base plate 49 is an auxiliary plate 50 having a relatively large shallow enclosed recess 51 which is centrally bored in the provision of a swivel aperture 52 adapted for snug-fitting rotative engagement with a swivel post 53 having a diametrally enlarged head 54 located within the recess 51 and a diametrally reduced downwardly extending stud portion 55 which is threadedly engaged in a rotating bracket plate S6 having a depending pair of spaced parallel ears 57, 57', provided with aligned apertures 58, 58', respectively, for receiving a tubular bearing sleeve 14 held in place therein by a set screw 15 and having an outwardly projecting diametrally reduced end portion 16. Shiftably and rotatably mounted in the bearing sleeve 14 is a rod 17 having a diametrally enlarged head portion 18 and being drilled and tapped at its opposite end, as at 19', for receiving a captsan screw 20' and retaining washer 21. Mounted encirclingly around the reduced end portion 16 of the sleeve 14' is a compression spring 22, all of said elements being substantially similar in construction and function to the correspondingly numbered elements of the previously described examining table A.

The auxiliary plate extends rearwardly from the recess 51 and is provided with three downwardly opening recesses 59 arranged in a uniformly spaced series with their center lines along an arc having its center upon the center line of the pivot pin 53. The rotating bracket plate 56 also extends rearwardly from the pivot pin 53 in underlying registration with the rearwardly extending portion of the auxiliary plate 50 and is provided with a single recess or aperture 60 of the same diametral size as the recesses 59 and adapted to register optionally with any one of the three of such recesses 59. Mounted for vertically shiftable movement within the recess 68 is a short pin 61 adapted for optional locking engagement in any one of the recesses 59 and being turned down on its downwardly projecting end to provide a diametrally reduced stud portion 62 terminating in an enlarged head 63 for operative disposition within a U- shaped slot or recess 64 formed in the rearwardly presented margin of a flange 65 projecting laterally from a horizontally elongated vertical plate 66 rockably mounted upon the bearing sleeve 14' and spaced outwardly from the inner vertical face of the ear 57 by a pair of washers 67. Also swingably mounted at its inner end upon the bearing sleeve 14 is a stirrup bar 23', substantially identical in all respects to the previously described stirrup bar 23. The vertical plate 66 extends on opposite sides of the bearing sleeve 14 and is provided with apertures 68, 68', and similarly the stirrup bar 23 is provided with an aperture 69 adapted for 1 alignment and registration with the aperture 68 when the stirrup bar 23' is in operative or outwardly extended position and adapted for alignment with the aperture 68' when the stirrup bar 23 is in inoperative or concealed position.

The head 18' of the rod 17 is provided with a radially outwardly extending 'rod 39 and a locking pin 4G having a diametrally reduced end 41 for sliding disposition through the aperture 69 and optional engagement in the apertures 68, 68. Rigidly mounted upon the longitudinal stud portion of the apron 7 is a sleeve 42' having a diametrally enlarged ange 43' by which it is welded to the inner face of the apron 7. Shiftably mounted in, and extending through, the sleeve 42' is an actuating rod 45 provided on its inner end with a diametrally l enlarged actuating head 46 having an inwardly presented face 47' for abutment against the capstan screw 20. At its opposite or external end, the actuating rod 45' is provided with an enlarged button-like pressure knob 48', the elements 42', 43' 45, 46', 47', and 48 being 6 of similar construction and function to the corresponding elements of the previously described examining table A.

When in operative position, the stirrup bars 23 extend outwardly through the slots 10 and at their outer end are provided with stirrups, such as the previously described stirrups 30. For certain purposes, it is desirable to swing the stirrup bars 23' horizontally toward or away from each other. In such case, either one or both of the stirrup bars 23' may be swung upwardly from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l0, thereby shifting the pin 61 downwardly until it is disengaged from the particular aperture 59 in which it has been engaged. Thereupon, the stirrup bar 23' and the rotating bracket plate 56 associated therewith may be swung horizontally until the pin 61 is aligned with one of the other apertures 59, whereupon the stirrup bar 23 may be allowed to return to horizontal position, lifting the pin 51 into engaged position and locking the stirrup bar 23' in such lateral shifted position. Whenever it becomes desirable to swing either or both of the stirrup bars 23' from operative position to concealed position, the knob 48 is pressed inwardly, shifting the rod 17' and its associated locking pin 4G inwardly, releasing the reduced end 41 from the apertures 68. Thereupon, the released stirrup bar 23', together with the locking pin 40', will swing around into concealed position and the reduced end 41 of the locking pin 40' will become engaged in the alternate aperture 68' to retain the stirrup bar 23' in such concealed position.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the physicians examining table may be made and substituted for those herein set forth in the appended claims without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a physicians examining table including a base member and a rectilinear top member mounted upon and extending over the upper end of the base member, said top member being substantially wider than the base member across the transverse margin of its foot-end and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom on either side to form rectangular overhanging portions; foot stirrups comprising a stationary hinge-bracket mounted on and projecting downwardly from the underside of each overhanging portion adjacent the transverse margin across the foot-end thereof, a bar rockably mounted at one end for optional disposition in concealed position horizontally beneath the overhanging portion and in extended position horizontally outwardly from the overhanging portion, a foot stirrup slidably mounted on each bar, and means for optionally locking each bar in concealed and extending positions.

2. In a physicians examining table comprising a base member having a head-end and a foot-end and a rectilinear top member mounted upon and extending over the upper end of the base member, said top member being substantially wider than the base member across the transverse margin at its foot-end and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom on either -side to form rectangular overhanging portions; foot stirrups comprising a stationary hinge-bracket mounted upon the underside of each of said `overhanging portions and having a depending ear provided with spaced apertures, a hinge pin rotatably and shiftably mounted in and extending transversely through the ear between the apertures, a bar rigidly mounted on the hinge pin for rotation therewith and being adapted for optional disposition in concealed position beneath the `overhanging portion and in extended position outwardly from the overhanging portion, a foot stirrup adjustably mounted on each bar, and means actuated by lengthwise shifting movement of the hinge pin 5 for optionally engaging in one or the other of said aper- 7 tures and thereby locking each bar in concealed and extended positions respectively.

3. In a physicians examining table comprising a base member having a head-end and a foot-endand a rectilinear top member mounted upon and extending over the upper end of the base member, said top member being l substantially wider than therbarse member acrosslthe transverse margin atV its foot-end and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom on either side to form rectangular overhanging portions; foot stirrups comprising la hingebracket swivelly mounted for swingable movement about lil' a substantially vertical axis upon the underside of each of said `overhanging portions and having a depending ear provided with spaced apertures, a hinge pin rotatably and shiftably mounted in and extendingtransversely through the ear between the apertures, aV bar rigidly mounted on the hinge pin for rotation therewith and being adapted for optional disposition in concealed position beneath the 'Y member having a head-endand a foot-end and'afrectilinear top member mounted upon and extending over the upper end of the base member, saidV top memberbeing substantiallyV wider than the base member across the transverse margin at its foot-end and projecting laterally out-. wardly therefrom on either side vto form rectangular overhanging portions; foot stirrups comprising a hinge-bracket Y swivelly mounted for swingable movement about a'substantially vertical axis upon the underside of each of said over-hanging portions and having a depending ear provided with spaced apertures, a hingerpin rotatably and shiftably mounted in and extending transversely through the ear Vbetween the apertures, a bar rigidly mounted on the hinge pin for rotation therewith and being adapted for optional disposition in concealed position beneath the overhanging portion and in extended position outwardly from the overhanging portion and in extended positionoutwardly from the overhanging portion, a foot stirrup adjustably mounted on eachrbar, means actuated by lengthwise shifting movement ofthe hingeV pin for optionally engaging in one or the other of said apertures and thereby locking each bar in concealed fand extended positions respectively, and latch means operatively associated with the hinge-bracket for 'releasably locking it in any one of several selected positions of rotation around theV axis about which said hinge-bracket is swiveled'so that the bar carried thereby may be located Y in several positions of lateral divergence with respect to the table top whenrsaid'bar is in outwardly lswung opera-Y tive position.

V5. In a physicians examining table including a base Y member and a rectilinear top member mounted upon and extending over the upper end of the base member, said top member being substantially wider than the base memberacross the transverse -margin of its foot-end and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom on eitherl sideV to form rectangular overhanging portions; foot stirrups com-V prising a hinge-bracket mounted on, and projecting downwardly from, the underside of 'each overhanging portion adjacent the transverse marginiacross the foot-end thereof, a bar rockably mounted at 'one end for optionalY disposition in concealed position horizontally beneath theoverhanging portion and in extended position horizontally outwardly from ythe overhanging portion, a foot stirrup slidably mounted on eachbarpand means for optionally locking each bar in concealed and extended positions.

6. In a physicians examining table comprising a base memberV having a head-end anda yfoot-end anda rectilinear top member mounted'uponV and extending over the upper end of the basek member, said top member being substantially wider than the base member across thertransverse margin at its foot-end and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom on either side to form rectangular overhanging portions; foot stirrups comprising a hinge-bracket mounted upon the underside of each of said overhang'ing portions and having'a depending ear provided with spaced apertures, a hinge pin rotatably and shiftablymounted in and Yextending transversely through the earrbetween theV position in concealed position beneath the overhanging'VK portion and in extended position outwardly fromgthe overhanging portion, a foot stirrup adjustably mounted on'earch bar, and means actuated by `lengthwise shifting movement of the hinge pin for optionally engaging in one or the other of said apertures and thereby locking ,Y

each bar in concealed and extended positions respectively.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES VPATENTS D. 148,774 Fay Feb. 24, v.1948 Y 283,199 Brinkerhoif Aug. k4, 1893 Y 542,060 Lentz July 2, 1895 658,999 Scannell Oct. 2, 1900 724,125 Prindle Mar. 31, 1903 1,201,274 Denquer Oct. 17, 1916 1,649,053 Allison Nov. l5, A1927 1,829,918 Andrews Nov. 3, V1931 2,223,784 Froelich Dec. 3, 1940 2,258,782',Y McKean Oct. 14, 1941 Y Froelich Jan. 19, 1943 

